Releasable retrieving tool



sept, 27, 1966 Filed May 27. 1964 R. A. PLUNK RELEASABLE RETRIEVING TOOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Rowe A. Plunk ATTORNEYS sept. 27, 1966 R. Ag'PLUNK 3,275,368

RELEASABLE RETRIEVING TOOL Rowe A.Plunk ATTORNEYS Sept 27, 196e R. A. PLUNK 3,275,368

l RELEASABLE RETRIEVING TOOL yFiled May 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) rice 3,275,368 RELEASABLE RETRIEVING TOOL Rowe A; Plunk, P.O. Box 1167, Midland, Tex.

Filed May27, 1964, Ser. No.'370,429

19Claims. (Cl. 294-86.3)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in releasable retrieving tools;

One object of the invention is to provide an improved retrieving ytool which is adapted vto be nm into the flow conductor or .tubing od a well on a small wire line or cable for releasable engagement with a stuck well device or other article, such as junk, to permit removal lthereof and which may be utilized to set a well device or adjust or service the same.

Other objects are to provide an improved retrieving tool having supporting means for releasably engaging a well device to remove -the same from a well and resilient means 4for urging the supporting means downwardly into engaged position and permitting upward movement of said supporting means into disengaged position to ffacilitateits engagement with the well device; to provide an improved retrieving tool 'having means coacting with the resilient means to hold the supporting means in engaged position and movable relative to said supporting means to support the same in its disengaged position; .to provide an improved retrieving tool having Ireleasable restraining means 'for preventing movement of the coacting means into supporting position until the restraining means is released; to 4provide an improved retrieving toolhaving resilient means vfor imparting upward movement to the supporting means upon release ofthe restraining means; to provide an improved retrieving tool having releasable restraining means -for limiting upward movement of the supporting means and means for positively holding said` supporting means in disengaged position upon release of the restraining means; to provide an improved retrieving Itool wherein the restraining means is adapted to be released by upward or downward movement of the tool relative to the well device; and to provide an improved retrieving tool having upper and lower portions connected by lfrangible means whereby the -upper portion maybe separated from the lower portion in the event that it is impossible .to disengage the supporting means @from the well device.

A construction designed to car-ryout the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention. t

l 'Ihe invention will 4be more readily understood from a reading of the following speciiication and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein examples of the -invention are shown, and wherein:v

FIG. 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section of a releasable retrieving tool, constmcted in accordance with the invention and shown in running pos-ition, FIG. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal, sectional view of the tool engaged with the iishing neck of a well device,

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the tool released from engagement `with the well device,

FIG. 4 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a slightly -modiiied tool in krunning position,

FIG. 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, Vof another modification in running position,

`FIG. 6 is a side elevational view orf the supporting member of the tool of FIG. 5,

3,275,368 Patented Sept. 27, 1966 FIG. 7 is .a side elevationalview, partly in section, of another modified tool in running position,

'FIG. 8 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, t e FIG. 9 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a further modiiication in running position,

lFIG. 10 is a View, similar to IFIG. 9, showing the tool after it has been rele-ased vfrom the -iishing neck device, Y

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view,

screwthreaded into the upper end of the-bore 11 [for'susll pending the tool 'from la wire line or cable (not shown) whereby said tool may be lowered i-nto and removed from a well. The upper portion of the sub 12 is reduced and has an upstanding, screwthreaded pin 14 for enga-gement with a socket memberl y15, show-n in broken lines, which is attached ,to the lower end of Vthecable. Although not shown, a weight member or si-nker member and jars are adapted -to be mounted on the cable. An axial, cylindrical bore 1'6 is formed in the lower portion of the .depending pin :13 of the sub lfor slidable engagement by a complementary shear member or plug 17 which has an enlarged, depending skirt 18 substantially complementary to .the bore` 1'1 of the body .10. For releasably connecting the plug 17 to the pin 13, an opening 19 extends diametrically through both said plug and pin to receive a frangible element or shear pin 20. The bore 16 extends above the -plug to permit downward move-ment of the body and sub relative to said plu-g upon shearing of the element 20 and has an angular relief port 21 extending from its upper end to the exterior orf the sub |1-2. t

The lower end portion of the bore I11 of the body 10 is enlarged to prov-ide Va counterbore 22 ,immediately above an upwardly facing bevelled seat or `bowl y23 which are adapted to coact with a slip assembly or supporting member 24. To facilitate the entry of the iishing neck 25` of a well device 26 (FIG. 2) into the counterbore 22, an upwardly and inwardly chamfered surface 27 may be provided at the lower extremity of the body 10. The supporting member l24 has a collar 28 4at its upper end screwthreaded on the lower end portion lof a cylindrical mandrel or member 29 which has an enlarged head or ange -30 on its upper end disposed within the -skirt v18 of the shear plug 17. Elongate, resilient slip elements or-fingers 31 depend from the collar 28 and have exterior bevelled surfaces 32 at their lower ends for engagement with the bowl 23 of the body 110. Each slip iinger 31 has a plurality of internal teeth or serratons 33 at its lower end for gripping the fishing neck 25 of the well device 26. The fishing neck may be screwthreaded, as shown by the numeral 34, or have other radial projections for engagement by the teeth 33. The slip -iingers have a normally open set whereby the same flex outwardly into lthe counterbore 22 to disengage 4the teeth :from the fishingneck when the body moves downwardly relative to the supporting'member 24 as show-n in FIG. 3.

of a wellV A cylindrical depth plug 35 is screwthreaded on the lower end of the mandrel 29 and is disposed within the supporting member for engaging the upper end of the fishing neck When said neck is gripped by the ,teeth 33 of said member (FIG. 2). The mandrel is supported by the engagement of the supporting member 24 with` the bowl 23 and said member is urged downwardly by a helical spring 36 confined on said mandrel above said member. A spacer sleeve 37 overlies the spring 36 and supports an annular spring cap or collar 38 in engagement with the lower end of the skirt 18 of the shear plug 17, theA sleeve and cap being slidably confined on the mandrel 29 below its head 30. The, cap 37 has a reduced lower portion V39 for engaging within the upper end of a helical release spring 40 which isV of greater strength than the spring 36 and `which surrounds the spacer sleeve 37. An annular, upwardly facing seat or shoulder 41 for the lower end of the spring 40 is formed in the bore 11 of the body 10, such as by counterboring the upper portion of said bore. It is noted :that the spring 40 is compressed by its confinement between the cap 38 and the shoulder 41 and assists the spring 36 in maintaining said cap in contact with they bottom of the skirt 18. The latter is of sufficient length to space the head 30 of the mandrel from the shear plug and said .head is spaced from the cap so that the supporting member 24 engages and is supported by the bowl 23. Of course, the compression of the spring 40 is insufficient to cause shearingrof the element 20.

In use, the retrieving tool is assembled as shown in FIG. 1 and is lowered into a well on the lower Vend of a wire line into engagement with the stuck'well device 26 to be removed. Due to the relatively weak strength of the spring `36, the supporting member 24 and mandrel 29 are moved upwardly so as to compress said spring when the fishing neck 25 enters the bowl 23` of the body 10. This movement, which is permitted by the kdepth of Vthe skirt 18 of the shear plug 17, withdraws the lower ends of the slip lingers 31 from the bowl into the counterbore 22 so -that said lingers may flex outwardly to permit continued downward movement of the tool and entry ofy the fishing neck into the supporting member for engagement with the depth plug 35. Upon slight raising of the tool, the compression of the spring 36 prevents upward movement of the supporting member and mandrel whereby the bowl 23 reengages the bevelled surfaces a stop (not shown) in the well, or for adjusting or servicing a device set in a well. Upon setting or servicing of the well device, the frangible element 20 is sheared as shown in FIG. 3 to release the tool from said device and permit withdrawal of the tool.

If desired, the releasable retrieving tool may be of shorter length as shown `in FIG. 4 wherein the same nuv merals are applied to identicalV parts and primed nu- 32 ofthe slip lingers to force said lingers inwardly and cause the teeth 33 to gripthe screwthreads 34 or other projections of the fishing neck so as to connect the tool to the well device.(FIG. 2). When so connected, Vthe tool may be jarred upwardly to loosen the well device in the usualmanner.

Inthe event that it is impossible to dislodge the well device, the tool is releasable from said device upon shear.- ing of the Vfrangitble element 20. This is accomplished by downwardjarring of the tool to move Athe body 11,`

ward movement retracts the lower endsof the slipA lingersl from the bowl 23into the counterbore 22 tor permit outward flexing of said lingers and disengagement of the teeth 33 from the fishing neck 25 whereby the' tool is disconnected from the well`device2'6 and may be withdrawn from the well. the tool is not limited to well-devices lhaving screwthreaded fishing necks and said tool may be connected to any lishingneck or other article capable of being gripped by the supporting member when the surfaces 32 of its fingers are seated in the bowl 23. Also, it is pointed It is noted that the use of Y merals to parts which are similar. A tubular body 10', of less length, is substituted for the body 10 and has a similar bore 11', counterbore22, bowl 23', bevelled lower end surface 27 and shoulder 41';

the socket member 15, the frangible element 20 connects the shear plug l17 to the depending pin 13 lof said sub, and the spring 40 is compressed betweenthe shoulder 41iand the skirt 18 of said shear plug.r A mandrel29', of 'less length than the mandrel 29, has its head 30' disposed within the skirt 18 and the supporting member 24 and depth plug 35 depend f-rornitslower end. In place of the cap 38, a flat ring 38"is interposed between the bottom of the skirt 18 and the upper end of `the `spring 40 for engagement by the mandrel head 30'.'` A helical spring 36', of greater length than the spring 36,is conlined upon the mandrel 29' between the ring 38'k and `the collar 28 of the supporting member for urging saidmem- |ber downwardly and maintaining the bevelled surfaces 32 of .itslingers 31 inV engagement with the bowl 23 of the body 10. As is readily apparent, this modified tool functions in the same manner `as the tool shown in A modified releasable retrieving tool is shown in FIGS.

5 and 6 and includes an elongate tubular body 42 adapted to be secured to the socketmember 15 by a slightly modilied sub 43. The depending screwthreaded pin 44 of the sub 43 is similar to the pin 13 of the sub 12 and has a` similar bore 45 for receiving a complementary shear plug 46 which is provided with an annular ange 46 on its lower end. Instead of being attached to the `sub7pin.44,`.

the shear plug 46 is fastened by a diametric frangible element or shear pin 47 to an annular shear member or ring 48 which is adapted to engage the lowerend of said sub pin.` Since the Vshear ring is separate from the sub,

the` fragments of the fractured shear pin are easier to remove -thanthe parts of the fractured element 20. The( body 42, which is similar to thebody 10., has a similar bore 49 and a counterbore 50 of much greater length than the counterbore 22 of said body 10 for coacting with a supporting member 51 having a collar 52 at its upper entiV screwthreaded on the lower end of a cylindrical `mandrel 53 which has an enlarged head or liange 54 on its upper end. As best shown in FIG. 6, elongate, resilient fingers or tongues `55 depend from the collar 52 of the member 51 and have a normally open set` so as -t-o flex outwardly` when uncontined or in the counterbore 50. The` lower v ends of the fingers 55 have inwardly directed hooks or engaging elements 56 for gripping the angedlishing neck of a well device (not shown) and the` lower surfaces 57 of the hooks are bevelled toy permit sliding thereof over the fishing neck flange. An annular seat or shoulder 58,`

is provided below the counterbore for supporting engagement by thelingers and has a bevelled underside 59 at thelower extremity of the ,body 42 to facilitate the entry of Y a lishing neck into said body. As shown at 60,'the counterbore S0-is reduced in diameter immediately above the shoulderr 58 for confining the lower `ends ofl the rfingers -55 when said lower ends rest on said shouldervso asto liex4 said rlingersmwardly and dispose the hooks 57 in Vgripping position.. Movement of th'e lower ends of the lingers out of the counterbore isfacilitated bya bevelled surface 60' at the lower end of said counterbore.

A depth Vplug 61, similar to the dept/h plug 35,1is dis-Y posed with the supporting member. 51 and screwthreaded.

The body 10'` is connected by the uprstanding pin 14 of the sub 12 Ato p on the lower end of the mandrel 53 for engaging the upper end of the flanged fishing `neck when the flange of said neck is gripped by the hooks of said member. The mandrel and supporting member are urged downwardly by a helical spring 62 which. is confined on said mandrel between said member and Van overlying spacer sleeve 63 surrounding the upper portion of said mandrel. The upper portion of the bore 49 of the body 42 is counterbored to provide an annular, upwardly facing, bevelled shoulder or seat 64 for an annular spring `support or collar 65 through which the spacer sleeve 63 projects into engagement with a flat ring 66. A compressed helical spring 67, of greater strength than the spring 62, lrests on the collar 65 in surrounding relation to the spacer sleeve for urging the ring 676 Ainto engagement with the lower end of a spacer sleeve 63,1 which, in turn, bears aaginst-the flange 46' on the lower end of the shear plug 46 -for holding the shear ring 48engaged with the pin 44 ofV the sub 43. The internal diameter of the collar is sufficiently greater than the external diameter of the spacer sleeve 63Vto permit said sleeve to move freely through said collar with the mandrel. An annular recess 69 may be formed in the upper end of thercollar 6,5:for confining the lower end of the compressed spring 67.

The sleeve 68 spaces'the head 54 of the mandrel 53 from the shear plug 46 and permits relative upward movement of said mandrel with the supporting member 51 without fracturing the shear pin 47. Although the spring 62 is of sufficient strength to hold the supporting member in engagement with the shoulder 58, it permits relative movement when said member engages the flanged fishing neck of a well device upon lowering'of the tool into a well. The lower ends of the fingers 55 are retracted into the counterbore 50 to allow outward flexing of said fingers and` continued downward movement of the `tool for entry of the fishing neck into the supporting member and engagement with the depth plug 61. Upon a slight lifting of the tool, the compression of the spring 62 prevents upwardmovement of the member 51 and mandrel 53 whereby the shoulder 58 reengages the lower ends ofthe fingers 55 and said fingers are forced inwardly -to cause the hooks 5,6toV grip the fishingneck below its flange and connect said tool to the well device for dislodgement by upwardV jarring.

If the well device remains stuck, the tool is jarred downwardly so as to move the body 42, -sub 43, shear plug 46, ring 66 and spacer sleeves 63 and 68 downwardly relative t-o the mandrel 53. supporting member '51 and depth plug 61. Sufiicient downward movement causes the head 54 of the mandrel to strike Wthe shear plug and fracture the shear pin 47. The compression of the spring 67 forces the shear plug upwardly into the bore 45 of the sub pin 44 and the mandrel and supporting member are lifted by the ring 66 engaging the head 54V of said mandrel so as to retract the lower ends of the fingers 55, into the counterbore 50 to permit outward flexing of said fingers andy disengagement of thehooks 56 from the flange of the fishing neck, whereby the tool. is disconnected from the well device and may be withdrawn from the well. Of course, the tool of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be utilized to set a tool in a well as explained in connection with the tool of FIGS. 1-3.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the tools of FIGS. 1 and 3 may be converted from a shear-down to a shear-up type so as to permit unlimited downward as well as limited upward jarring of` said tool. In addition to the body 10, mandrel 29, spacerV sleeve 3 7, spring cap 38 and release spring 40, the shear-up modification includes the supporting member 24 and spring 36 (not shown) as well as a cylindrical member or mandrel 70 having a screwthreaded pin 71 at its upper end connected to the socket member 15. It is n'oted` that the depth plug 35 is unnecessary and may be omitted since the shearing action is upward. Annular, downwardly facing shoulders 72 and 73 are formed on the upper and medial portions, respectively, of the mandrel 70 by reducing the medial portion and further reducing the lower portion of said mandrel. The lower end of the mandrel is attached by a secondary, diametric frangible element or shear pin 74 to the upper end of a Vsleeve 75 which rests on the spring cap 38 and spaces the head 3'0 of the mandrel 29 from said mandrel lower end,` said mandrel 29` being urged 4downwardly with the meinber 24 by the spring 36.V

An upper, tubular body or sleeve 76 surrounds the medial portion of the mandrel 70 and has its reduced lower end screwthreaded into the upper end of the body 10 in spaced relation to the upper end of the sleeve 75. The body 76 has a bore 77 complementary to the reduced lower portion of the mandrel and the upper portion of the bore is counterbored to provide an annular, upwardly facing shoulder 78 for seating engagement by the mandrel shoulder 73. A collar 79l is confined on the mandrel above the upper body and'has 'an annular, upwardly facing shoulder 80 for seating engagement by the mandrel shoulder 72. A primary, diametric frangible element or shear pin 82 fastens the mandrel and upper body immediately below the collar 79 and" is confined against ydisplacement by a cylindrical cover or sleeve 83 whichoverlaps the lower portion of saidcollar and is recessed therein as well as the upper portion of said body so as to be flush with the eXteriors thereof. As shown' in FIG. 8, diametrically-alined openings 8 4are formed in the cover 83 to permit insertion of the"shear pin 82 and removal of fragments of said pin upon fracturing thereof.V Due to the seating engagement ofthe shoulders 72, 73, 78 and 80, loads imposed on the mandrel70 are transmitted by the body 76 to the body 10 to permit downward jarring of the tool without 'fracturing the shear pins. Y

The modified tool of FIGS. 7 and 8 functions in the same manner as the tool of FIGS, 1-3 except for upward shearing. After the tool has been connected to the fishing neck 25 of t-he well device 26, as described hereinbefore, it isV adapted to be jarredY upwardly to dislodge the device. Of course, the extent of` jarring is limited Iby the strength of the primary shear pin S2. Although the tools of FIGS. 1-6 may be jarred downwardly to a limited degree in setting a device in a well, dependent upon'the strength of their shear pins, the seating engagement ofthe shoulders 72, 73, 79 and 80 permits unlimited downward jarring of the shear-up tool. Since the teeth '33 of the supporting member fingers 31 remain in surrounding relation to the fishing neck,'any disconnection is momentary and said teeth are reengaged by lthe force of the compressed spring 36. In order to release the tool from the well device,it is jarred` upwardly sufficiently to fracture Ythe primary shear pin and allow upward movement of the mandrel 70 relative to the bodies 76 and 10. The sleeve 75 moves upwardly with the mandrel 70 to permit expansion of the release spring 40A and lifting of the mandrel 29 and supporting member' 24 so as to retract the lower ends of the fingers 31 from'tlie bowl 23 into the counterbore 22, whereby said, fingers flex outwardly to disengage the teeth 33 from the fishing neck. In the event that the release mechanism malfunctions', the secondary shear pin 74 is fractured by continued upward jarring of the mandrel70 so as to cause the: upper end of the sleeve 75 to strike the lower end of the upper body 76. This permits removal of the mandrel with the wire line and leaves'the remainder of the tool in the well for removal by heavier equipment.

Each -of the tools shownin FIGS. 1-8 is of the spring release type in that the compression of the spring 40 or 62 is utilized to release the tool from a well device when it is impossible to dislodge the device or after the erases said slip assemblies from said devices when the necks or l extremities are deformed or have wire line or other junk draped thereover. Accordingly, a more positive release mechanism has been provided as shown in FIGS.l 9-13. The tool illustrated in FIGS. 9-12 is of the shear-up type, while the tool of FIG. 13 is of the shear-down type.

The tooll of FIGS. 9-12 includes a lower body, 8S, identical to and interchangeable with the body and lhaving an identical bore 86, counterbore 87,' bowl 88, chamfered lower end 89 and shoulder 90. An upper, tubular body or sleeve 91,` similar to the upper body 76 of FIG.Y 7

has its reduced lowerV end screwthreaded into the upper The mandrel 95 has an upstanding pin 96 screwthreadedV into the socket member '115 and an annular ilange or shoulder 97 below the pin for slidably confining -an annular capk or collar 98 on said mandrel in spaced relation to the upper end of the upper body 91. A relatively strong, helical spring 99 is compressed between the body 91 and cap 98 in surrounding relation to the mandrel by a primary, diametric frangible element or shear pin 100 which connects said mandrel and body.v The spring 99 and shear pin 100 are closed by a cylindrical cover or sleeve 101 which is similar to the cover 83 and which overlaps the upperl portion of the body and the lower portion of the cap in recessed, ush relationship. As shown by the numeral 102, :the cover 101 as well as the cover 83 may havek indentations therein for overlying Vthe ends of the shear pin to resist rotation of said cover and prevent accidental registration of the openings thereof, such as 84 in FIG. 8, with said shear pin.

The mandrel 95 has a reduced lower` end portion 103 f complementary to the bore, 92 of the upper body 91 and projecting therebelow-for attachment by a secondary, diametric frangible element or shear pin 104 to a shear ring 105 loosely confined on the lower extremity of said mandrel in spaced relation to the lower end of said body.

A release mechanism 106 `is slidably mounted in vthe bore 86 of the lower body 85 and includes a cylindrical collet element or sleeve 107 vseated on the shoulder 90 and held in engagement therewith by a spacer sleeve -108 which extends from the lower end of the upper body in surrounding relation to the shear ring 105.` The collet element 107'hasan internal, annular ange 109 at the lower end of its bore 110 and an internal, annular groove or recess 111 at the upper end of the bore so as to provide an upwardly facing seat or shoulder. A tubular member or mandrel 112 extends through the collet element so as to depend therebelow and has an enlarged, :cylindrical head 113 at its upper end slidable vin the bore 110 andV projecting kthereabove Vinto ther spacer sleeve 108.' The slipassembly or supporting member 24, :or a similar member, `is adapted to be screwthreaded on the lower'end portion of the mandrel 112 and 'a tubular depth plug 125, similarto the plug 35, is screwthreaded on the lower extremity of said mandrel. A helical spring 114 is confined on the mandrel between the collar 28 of the supporting member and the flange 10'9 of the collet element 107 for constantly urging the bevelled surfaces 32 of the slip lingers 31 into engagement with the bowl 88 of the lower body. Y

The head 113 of the mandrel 112 is tubular so as to have a cylindrical bore 115 for receiving a complementary element or plug` 116 which is cup-shaped and has an upwardly facing recess or socket -117 for confining .the lower end ofa helical spring 118. A cap or plug 119, having a downwardly facing recess or socket 120 for confining 5 the upper end of the spring 118, is screwthreaded into the` upper end of the bore 115 of the mandrel head whereby theV plug 116V is constantly urged downwardly. As shown by the numeral 121 in FIG. 10, the lower ends of the bore FIG. 11, and are of aV diameter greater than the thick- 1 ness of the wall of said head so asto project into the bore j 110 of the collet element 107 or into the bore 115 for engagement with the exterior of the plug 116.r Normally,` theV balls 123 are forced inwardly by the bore 110 into engagement with the shoulder 122 of the plug 116.so'as to support said plug in an elevated position for compressing the spring 118 l(FIG. 9).

moved into alinement with the balls and the compression of the spring 118 forces the plug 116 downwardly whereby its shoulder 122 rides over said balls to directthe same Since the plug isl complementary to into said groove. the bore 115, the balls 123 are .locked inthe groove to positively support the member 24 in the relative raised position shown in FIG. 10. It is noted that the plug 119 strikes the lower portion 103 ofthe mandrel 95 to limitV this movement and prevent the balls 123 from riding out of lthe bore 110 until the primary shear pin1100' is fractured.

In the manner explained, the toolis adapted to be low- V ered into a well for engaging the supporting member with the fishing neck or other upper extremity of a well'device. The necessary upward movement `of the member 24 is permitted by the relativelyy Weak strength of the spring 114 whereby the lower ends of the lingers 31 are y retracted from the bowl 88 into the counterbore 87 and said fingers flex outwardly for receiving the fishing neck and allowing the depth plug 125 to engage said necks.

Due to the compression of the spring, the supporting member is reseated in the bowl with the teeth k33 of'its ngersin gripping engagement with the Vshing neck for transmitting upward jarring of the tool to thewell device.'-v

Although the extent of upward jarring islirnited by the strength of the primary shear pin 100, unlimited downward jarring is permitted by the seating engagement of the shoulders 93 and 9.4 whereby the tool is ideally adapted for setting a device in a well.

In they event that the `devicerisrnot dislodged or it isA desired to disconnect. from-a set device, the tool is jarred upwardly so as to fracture the primary shear pin and permit downward movementeof the upper body 91 relative to the mandrel by the force of the compressed spring i 99. This movement is sufficient to move the lower, end of` the upperbody into engagementwith the shear ring .on the mandrel lower portion 103 and provide space. for i the locking movement of `the release mechanism 1106 't shown in FIG. l0. As has beenexplained, the balls 123y t are forced into the groove 111 by the plug 116 `andare held in said groove bythe force of the spring 118 which urges said plug downwardly. Due to the positive engage-l mentV of the balls in the groove, the supporting member pin 104 is fractured by continued upward jarring of the mandrel 95 which causes the shear ring I105 to strike vthe lower end of the upper bodjVIV 91` and disconnects said j Y mandrel from said body asshown in FIG. 12 whereby said mandrel may be removed with the Wire line.

` As set forth hereinbefore, the tool ofVFIG. 1 13 `is of theY shear-down type and includes the lower body 85 Vand re lease vmechanism 106 of the -tool of FIGS. 9-12 as well as the supporting member 24 and depth plug 125 which are not shown. The connecting member or sub 12 has its Balls 123 are mounted in radiall When the collet element;` moves downwardly with the bodies 85 and 91 relative tol j the mandrel 112 a sutlicient distance, the `groove 111 is In the event that the release mech` t anism 106 fails to operate properly, the-secondary shear V 9 depending pin 13 screwthreaded into the upper end of the bore 86 of the lower body and its upstanding pin 14 screwthreaded into the socket member 15. A shear plug 126, similar to the plug` 46 ofFIG. 5 and which may have a similar ange 127 on itslowerend to facilitate removal thereof, is slidably mounted in the bore 16 of the pin 13 so as to depend therefrom and is fastened thereto by a diametric frangible element or shear pin 128. For holding the collet element 107 seated on the shoulder 90 of the lower body 85, a spacer sleeve 129 is confined between the upper end of said element and the lower end of the pin 13 of the sub 12 in surrounding relation to the lower end and ange 127 of the shear plug 126. This tool is adapted to be engaged with or disengaged from a well device inthe same manner as the tool of FIGS. 9-12, but may be jarred upwardly to a greater extent. When it is desired or necessary to disconnect the tool from the device, the shear pin 128 is fractured by downward jarring of the tool to move the sub 12, lower body 85, collet element 107, shear plug 126 and spacer sleeve 129 downwardly relative to the mandrel 112 and supporting member 24. Upon suliicient downward movement, the shear plug strikes the plug 119 of the mandrel head 113 to fracture the shear pin to permit continued downward movement of the collet element and the forcing of the balls 123 into the groove 111 by the plug 116 -to lock the release mechanism 106 in its relative elevated position with the supporting member 24 in its retracted or disengaged position. Until the shear pin 128 is fractured, the shear plug 126 limits the movement so as to prevent registration of the groove with the balls and locking of the release mechanism.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may :be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A retrieving tool including a tubular body having a reduced portion at the lower end of its bore, a slip assembly reciprocable in the bore for movement into and out of supporting engagement with its reduced port-ion and having gripping elements engageable with the reduced bore portion for inward movement into gripping position, a spring in said bore for urging the slip assembly downwardly into engagement with said reduced bore portion and permitting upward movement of said assembly and outward movement of the gripping elements upon relative downward movement of the body, means in said bore above said spring and coacting therewith to 4hold said slip assembly engaged with said reduced bore portion and movable relative to said assembly into a position to support said assembly out of engagement with said reduced bore portion, yand restraining means confined in the upper portion of said bore and releasably connected to said body for preventing movement of said coacting means into its supporting position until the restraining means is released by movement relative to said body.

2. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the coacting means is movable upwardly relative t-o the body and slip assembly into its supporting position upon release of the restraining means.

3. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 2 including resilient means for urging the coacting means into its supporting position.

4. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein the slip assembly includes an upstanding member spaced from the restraining means and engageable therewith for releasing said restraining means upon relative downward movement of the body.

5. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 2 wherein the restraining means engages the coacting means and is releasable by relative downward movement of the body to permit upward movement of said coacting means into its supporting position.

6. A retrieving tool as set forthA in claim 2 wherein the restraining means is removably mounted in the bore of the bodyand has a releasable portion to permit removal thereof by upward movement relative to said body.

7. Alretrieving tool'as` set forth in claim A1 wherein the slip assembly includes an upstanding member forsuspending said assemblyfrom the coacting means, the spring being conned on the member between the gripping ele-A ments of said slip assembly and at least a portion of said coacting means.

8. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 7 including a helical spring underlying at least a portion of the coacting means for urging said means upwardly into its supporting position, the rstraining means engaging said coacting means to compress the spring.

9. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 7 wherein the coacting means is movable downwardly with the body relative to the sli-p assembly into its supporting position, the restraining means overly-ing and engageable with the upstanding member to limit the relative downward movement.

10. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 7 including spring pressed means adapted to project laterally from the upper end of the upstanding member, the coacting means having a bore for receiving the upper end of said member and confining t-he spring pressed means against outward projection, the bore having a recess for receiving said spring pressed -means upon relative downward movement of said coacting means to lock the latter in its supporting position.

11. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 7 wherein the coacting means is movable upwardly relative to the body and slip assembly into its supporting position upon release of the restraining means.

12. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 11 including a helical spring underlying at least a portion of the coacting means for urging said means into its supporting position, the restraining means engaging said coacting means to compress the spring.

13. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein the restraining means engages the coacting means and is releasable by engagement with the upstanding member upon relative downward movement of the body.

14. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein the restraining means engages the coacting means and is releasable by upward movement relative to the body.

15. A- retrieving tool as set forth in claim 11 wherein the restraining means includes a member movably mounted in t-he bore of the body, means releasably connect-ing the member to said body and adapted to be released by upward movement of said member, a sleeve releasably connected to the lower end of said member and bearing against the coacting means, and `a downwardly facing shoulder in said bore in over-lying spaced relation to the sleeve for engagement thereby upon additional upward movement of said member to release said sleeve and permit removal of said member.

16. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein the coacting means is movable downwardly with the body relative to the slip assembly into its supporting position, the restraining means being engageable wit'h the slip assembly to limit the relative downward movement.

17. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 16 wherein the slip assembly includes an upstanding -member for suspending said assembly from the coacting means, spring pressed means adapted to project laterally from the upper end of the member, said coacting means having a bore for receiving the upper end of said member and conlining the spring pressed means against outward projection, the bore having a recess for receiving the spring pressed means upon relative downward movement of said coacting means to lock the latter in its supporting position.

18. A retrieving tool as set forth in claim 16 including resilient means for urging the restraining means upwardly relative to the body and slip assembly, said restraining means being releasable from said body by upward relative movement to permit downward movement of the coacting means relative to the slip assembly into its supporting position.

i 19.V A retrieving tooloas set forth in claim 16 wherein the restraining means is releasable from the body upon downward movement of said means with said body relative to the slip assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HUGO o. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner, 

1. A RETRIEVING TOOL INCLUDING A TUBULAR BODY HAVING A REDUCED PORTION IN THE LOWER END OF ITS BORE, A SLIP ASSEMBLY RECIPROCABLE IN THE BORE FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF SUPPORTING ENGAGEMENT WITH ITS REDUCED PORTION AND HAVING GRIPPING ELEMENTS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE REDUCED BORE PORTION FOR INWARD MOVEMENT INTO GRIPPING POSITION, A SPRING IN SAID BORE FOR URGING THE SLIP ASSEMBLY DOWNWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID REDUCED BORE PORTION AND PERMITTING UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID ASSEMBLY AND OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE GRIPPING ELEMENTS UPON RELATIVE DOWNWARDLY MOVEMENT OF THE BODY, MEANS IN SAID BORE ABOVE SAID SPRING AND COACTING THEREWITH TO HOLD SAID SLIP ASSEMBLY ENGAGED WITH SAID REDUCED BORE PORTION AND MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID ASSEMBLY INTO A POSITION TO SUPPORT SAID ASSEMBLY OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID REDUCED BORE PORTION, AND RESTRAINING MEANS CONFINED IN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BORE AND RELEASEABLY CONNECTED TO SAID BODY FOR PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID COACTING MEANS INTO ITS SUPPORTING POSITION UNTIL THE RESTRAINING MEANS IS RELEASED BY MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID BODY. 